THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The Corporation of the Town of Atikokan has been convicted on two counts of violating the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) for failing to comply with a Director’s Order to upgrade sewage infrastructure and install backflow preventers.
The convictions stem from offences occurring between April 2019 and March 2020, resulting in significant penalties for the municipality.
Details of Convictions and Penalties
- February 23, 2024: The Town of Atikokan was fined $50,000, plus a victim fine surcharge (VFS) of $12,500, for failing to upgrade sewage pumping stations by the compliance deadline. The town has one year to pay the fine.
- October 4, 2024: A second conviction under the same prosecution resulted in a $10,000 fine, plus a $2,500 VFS, for failing to install sewage backflow preventers as required. The town has 180 days to pay this penalty.
Background of the Case
The Atikokan Sewage Treatment Plant and its sewage collection system serve the town by managing wastewater transport and treatment before discharging it into the Atikokan River.
In 2018, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks issued a Director’s Order mandating several upgrades to the system. The order was intended to address sewage surcharges that caused backups into basements and untreated sewage overflows into the Atikokan River.
The key requirements included:
- Upgrading two sewage pumping stations.
- Installing backflow prevention devices on approximately 200 sanitary sewers by set deadlines in 2019.
While the upgrades to the pumping stations were eventually completed, they were six months overdue. The town also installed fewer backflow preventers than ordered and did so over an extended two-year period. Despite this, the town later provided evidence to the ministry showing that it had met the intent of the order regarding backflow preventers. This led to an amended order recognizing compliance as of May 14, 2024.
Ministry Investigation and Legal Action
The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch conducted a thorough investigation, leading to the charges and subsequent convictions.
The fines underscore the importance of timely compliance with environmental regulations, particularly where public health and environmental protection are at stake.
